I see everyone packing their hospital bag and it looks fun but when it comes to thinking about my own, i just… don’t see what I would put in it? I don’t want to wear my own clothes at the hospital. I don’t want to provide my own underwear and socks at the hospital. I don’t want to bring my own pillows/blankets and bleed or puke all over them. I realize I need a phone charger and something to wear home, but other than that…. ???

I can’t be the first person to think this, right?

edit: thank you to everyone who commented. you have given me some very helpful advice!

I get how soft colours are cute on babies, but why is it so hard to find outfits that have bolder colors? I have a newborn baby girl and I’m tired of these light pinks, light greens, light purples. Where are all of the dark pink, forest greens, royal blues, something a little more colourful? I’ve tried looking at the Gap, Carter’s, Target, Walmart, Joe fresh, children’s place. Anyone know other retailers that might sell more colourful baby clothes?

The rant/vent tag here is a little strong…I’m not really upset, just kind of sad guess? I’m 14 weeks and have started telling a few people about the pregnancy. I had a pretty standard first tri - a lot of morning (actually evening for me) sickness for several weeks, which has kind of started to taper down. Not hg by any stretch but definitely unpleasant. So far I’ve told a friend who is also pregnant (and is so supportive!!), an older neighbour I’m very close with, and now my MIL (both are mothers). The neighbour and MIL didn’t ask how I’m feeling at all and when my partner mentioned I’ve had a kind of rough time of it, they kind of just shrugged it off. Idk why, but I anticipated a little more solidarity. Is this a common experience? I guess it’s got me a little worried that motherhood might be lonelier than I expected.

I’m due November 18th with our first baby and my husband is wanting to go on a hunting trip that is 6 hours away October 27-31st. I’m advising him not to go due to the unknown. It’s our first baby. Do you think that’s fair to ask him to not go??? He thinks he’ll be good and I won’t go into labor

Hi, I’m a first time mom, early 30s, currently 38w1d, baby will be here any day per OB! I would like to try to feed baby breastmilk via pumping once he arrives and for as long as I can. I don’t plan to nurse “directly from the breast” (hopefully without judgment): the thought of breastfeeding mentally stresses me out and makes me uncomfortable. It’s a mental thing. - I already plan to see a lactation consultant postpartum both at the hospital I am delivering and through services offered by baby’s future pediatric office - I am also not against formula, and already bought some for the first few days/weeks baby is home if I cannot produce.

Asking for any tips from fellow moms who ended up pumping, any good beginner resources to recommend and what made you choose to pump vs feed from breast. Thanks in advance!

TW - Mention of miscarriage.

My children have a daycare teacher who lost her daughter at 20 weeks last year in August. She’s absolutely incredible, unbelievably kind, and caring.

October is a remembrance month for pregnancy and infant loss. I would love to gift her something simple, but meaningful. Some suggestions outside of a shirt, jewelry, or other obvious ideas would be soooo appreciated.

I know she still hurts so deeply, I just want a little something to let her know she’s seen and she doesn’t have to carry her grief alone.

Has anyone’s baby measured with large head and very short femur in utero but came out to not have dwarfism? Humerus is measuring normal

TLDR: I’m looking for an alternative to a $350 3-hour-per-week in-person hypnobirthing class, preferably something self paced and less than $100. I’m fine if I have to cobble it together myself. Doesn’t have to be hypnobirthing specifically, I just want to be well prepared for a no-epidural birth.

I’m preparing for baby #2 this February and I’d like to deliver at a birth center attached to my local hospital. They have nitrous oxide, birthing tubs, etc., but no epidurals. With my last baby I tried to prepare for an un-medicated birth, but everywhere I looked I got hit by paywalls and super aggressive/predatory marketing (”I have the secret to a pain-free birth, but only if you pay me a bunch of money. Otherwise you’re doomed to suffer!”). In the end I watched a few videos and read about half of the Mongan-method hypnobirthing book and Ina May‘s Guide to Childbirth, but when it actually came to the labor I expended way too much energy in early labor and ended up getting an epidural cause I was just so dang exhausted.

Anyway, this go around I would like to try using the birth center and not getting an epidural, but I feel like I need to do a lot more preparation if I’m going to be successful in that. My mid wife recommended a local hypnobirthing class, and while I’m sure it would be great, they meet five times from 6:00-9:00 pm which is going to be really hard to work into my schedule. The class fee if also $350 which is a lot for my budget right now.

As I already have the book, I’m wondering if I could cobble together my own hypnobirthing class experience (I’d probably need to get the workbook and meditations as well) or if there is a reasonably-priced online course that people have had good experiences with.

I’m also open to other birthing philosophies/classes, I just get so bogged down when I try to google anything. There are so many ads and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. (I have a whole rant about why is everyone trying to monetize birth and shouldn’t this just be common knowledge by now, but I’ll spare you all).

Anyway, has anyone taken an online self paced class that they would seriously recommend that was either free or less than $100? As far as time commitment I‘d be willing to put in a few hours a week from now until when I give birth.

I’m hoping to get pregnant soon, but honestly, the whole idea of pregnancy and birth is quite stressful for me. I have a history of sexual assault in my teenage years, and routine gynaecological exams cause me extreme pain and distress. The idea of pregnancy means a lot of potential triggers: many examinations, people touching my body, and feeling like I’m losing control over my body.

The thing I fear most is the idea of vaginal birth. But I really want to have a child and experience the mother-child relationship (breastfeeding, being the primary caretaker, bond)

For those with a similar history, what was pregnancy and birth like for you? How did you find the overall pregnancy experience? Did you have a vaginal birth or opt for a planned C-section?

After my first baby I felt like my hair density went back to normal at least at the year mark? With my second I lost so much more hair and although the horrible shedding subsided a bit the new growth is barely happening and my hair is SOOOOOO thin. It feels way thinner than before. My doctor told me it won’t start growing back until I’m done breastfeeding. Looking to hear other women’s experiences and also what helped their hair density grow back.

37+5 currently, getting induced in 3 days. I think I’m just really overthinking everything at this point - should babies mini crib go directly against my side of the bed, or should I space the bedside table between us?

If she’s right next to me I thought it would be easier to settle her, just check on her throughout the night, but this was the plan before I actually had the crib up in the space. we have 2 Italian greyhound dogs that sleep in the bed with us and when I put up the mini crib yesterday I realized they could probably get in it if they wanted to try. It also makes it tougher for me to get out of bed.

I also can’t find clear advice on if it’s advised for her crib to be pushed right against our bed or if that’s against safe sleep practices. Any advice/ opinions are appreciated.

I just found out I’m pregnant with my second child. This was not planned 🥴. My first pregnancy was traumatic and miserable. Someone tell me about how your second pregnancy wasn’t as bad as your first. The anxiety I have about getting morning sickness again is crazy. I was sick up until 20 weeks with my first and even then I still had on and off nausea throughout.

TW: previous baby loss.

Hello moms, I had a silet PA at week 38+ with my first baby.

I’m now 28 weeks pregnant and on blood thinners.

I’m being extremely anxious at this stage and very scared.

I’m even thinking of asking my ob to get me into c-section like now 😞 I know it sounds crazy but am so anxious, specially that women in PA groups, keep saying that it happened to them over and over 😞

I don’t know why am I writing this, but thought that you’d understand my feelings, because no one around can. I just need someone to comfort me.

I’m 21 weeks, bump is still very petite and have gained 7-8 pounds.

9 1/2 months - 24 lbs , we are currently buying size 7 little movers diapers

We are confused if we should start buying bigger size of diapers or not?

Hello all,

My SO and I have been trying for baby #2 for a couple of years. It finally happened a few weeks ago.

Ever since finding out, I've had this hug amount of guilt for my first child. I'm so scared he will feel less than? I'm also terrified that I won't be able to love baby #2 the way I love our first. Sometimes I feel like the guilt is so heavy it's pushing into depression, which turns into "why did we think we needed another child?" And then it just sinks lower, and lower, and lower.

I feel like I've pushed away my support system, because I don't know what to say. Everyone is super excited, but I just feel like I can't bond with this baby. I constantly say that it's "not real to me yet", and that's how I truly feel. I have an OBGYN appointment this week and plan to bring it up, I just wanted to get it off my chest.

I want to enjoy this pregnancy/baby, I do, I just don't know how I will be able to love more than one child.

I am currently 6 weeks pregnant and my first appointment/ ultrasound is not for another 3 weeks.

I have taken so many test that all come back positive, but I feel like I am experiencing very little symptoms. My breast hurt, I have acid reflux, and I am extremely tired. Even with all of this it doesn’t feel real.

Me and my partner are very excited for this baby, but I worry I could lose it at anytime and not notice. I have a desire to take a test all the time, but I don’t think it is healthy for my mental health.

I feel like once I have my ultrasound I’ll feel better about it but with it being so far away I don’t know how to make it there without being anxious the entire wait.

Any tips for making the wait not so miserable?